Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
